As I See It, The Word Mystery is for the Fallen World

“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Rev. 10:7

At this point in the Book of Revelation, a mighty angel gave the Apostle John a small book to eat and he was about to write what he heard the voices of seven thunders say, but he was told to seal them and not to write them down. Here, we learn that it will be in the days when the seventh angel speaks that the mystery of God should be finished. The next time we read of the seventh angel is in Revelation 16:17, “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.”  Needless to say, for those who know what Jesus cried out before His death on the cross: ‘It is finished!’ it meant for us that His work was done. As for the mystery spoken in verse 7, there were several applications: First, the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:26-27 illuminated Christ Jesus as Savior, as was declared to His servants His prophets: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  We also have the mystery spoken of related to Christ’s body: “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:32) However, there was a third sense of mystery that was spoken of in the Scriptures, and I believe that mystery is the one addressed in this passage of Revelation. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” (2 Thess. 2:7)

Even as Jesus cried out ‘It is finished’ when He accomplished His work on the Cross as our redeemer and Savior, we are told here that the mystery of iniquity will too be finished. Done! While we are told in 2 Thessalonians that ‘he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way,’ I am of the mind that the Holy Spirit, who indwells each member of Christ’s body individually, is the One who now lets evil reign, however restrained, until He is taken out of the way. Of course, this is where discussion centers on the translation or the rapture of the church. Basically, it is believed that if the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, then the body of Christ too must be taken because the Holy Spirit, “…is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:14) At what point the Holy Spirit and church is removed during the tribulation (before, mid, end; some say not at all), is up for eschatological debate.  Nonetheless…

The curious thing to me is why our salvation, the body of Christ and the working of iniquity (sin) are spoken of as mysteries? Yes, they were for a time leading up to the moment that God revealed more fully what was declared by the prophets, however today; looking back 2000 plus years, you’d think most people have heard of Jesus, His Church and witnessed the consequence of sin throughout the world. Nonetheless, the Book of Revelation was written as much for us today and used the word mystery: We, who are living closer than any other generation to the end times. Thus, I concluded that the word ‘mystery’ wasn’t used primarily for believers; those sealed in Christ. We know the reality of Christ. He dwells within us. We also know we are of His body… these things we know by personal experience and daily consult… heart, soul, mind and might enjoined in our love of God, and held fast by His Spirit. As a result, I tend to think the word ‘mystery’ was used for the sinner; those who remain in darkness… defying God… those who scoffed and laughed at the notion of the need of a Savior; fellowship within the body of Christ, or who one day shall stand, if without an advocate, to be judged and condemned on their own merit and all have fallen short of the glory of God.

As I see it, the word mystery is for the fallen and unsaved world. To us? Jesus, the Church, and the end of iniquity? We know.